Months of tension on the state Board of Education shot to the surface in plain view of everyone Thursday when a retired social studies teacher who serves as the board chair announced her resignation and held little back in doing so.

Marcia Neal, a Republican from Grand Junction, frequently found herself voting with two Democrats and against three Republics and one Democrat — yet another display of how current-day education policy can unite the left and the right as easily as it can divide. (See: the testing battles).

During a closed-door session Friday with the board he reports to, Education Commissioner Robert Hammond revealed he would be retiring at the end of June after more than four years leading the state’s education department through a period of momentous change.

Here are excerpts from our interview with Hammond, followed by statements released by others in the education world about his announcement:

Yesterday the governor made an announcement of 38 appointments to the council. Among the members who will participate in the leadership group are Robert Hammond, commissioner of education, Denver Public School’s board member Nate Easley, and Rep. Tom Massey, a Poncha
Springs Republican.

Each person will serve on the council until June 30, 2013.

The council is meant to act as a forum for educators, community members, business leaders and lawmakers to examine the current status of education policies and make recommendations to the politicians and governing boards. Lt. Gov. Joe Garcia will chair the council.

The new Education Leadership council replaces the previous P-20 Educating Coordinating Council.

According to a news release from the Gov.’s office, the council will take part in helping the state implement the educator effectiveness bill, or senate bill 191, passed last year. The council will also tackle issues contributiting to high dropout rates, high remediation needs, and barriers for graduates entering college.

The first meeting will take place Sept. 20. No agenda has been posted yet.

Other than the Lt. Gov., here’s a full list of the council members:

Robert K. Hammond of Erie, as Commissioner of EducationCharles Hereford Percy of Arvada, as Chairman of the Colorado Commission on Higher Education.Jane Goff of Arvada, as designee of the State Board of Education.Sen. Bob Bacon of Fort Collins, as designee of the Colorado Senate Education Committee.Rep. Tom Massey of Poncha Springs, as designee of the Colorado House of Representatives House Education Committee.Jennifer Merva Stedron of Denver, as Executive Director of the Early Childhood Leadership Commission.Reggie Bicha of Denver, as Executive Director of Health and Human Services.Nathaniel “Nate” Easley, Jr. of Denver, as a member of a local school board of education.Mark A. DeVoti of Pagosa Springs, as a school superintendent or principal.Floyd Mike Miles of Colorado Springs, as a school superintendent or principal.John L. Barry of Aurora, as a school superintendent or principal.Michelle Line Pearson of Broomfield, as a classroom teacher.David Ethan Greenberg of Cherry Hills Village, as a board member of or administrator at a public charter school.Nancy J. McCallin of Parker, as a postsecondary administrator representing the two-year sector.Stephen M. Jordan of Lafayette, as a postsecondary administrator representing the four-year sector.Jay W. Helman of Gunnison, as a postsecondary administrator or instructor representing the four-year sector.Judi Diaz Bonacquisti of Denver, as a postsecondary administrator representing the four-year sector.Bruce Davey Benson of Denver, as a postsecondary administrator or instructor representing the four-year sector.Joseph Bradley Blake of Denver, as a postsecondary administrator or instructor representing the four-year sector.Barbara Barnes Grogan of Denver, representing private businesses or industries in ColoradoMichael Craig Gass of Littleton, representing private businesses or industries in Colorado.Sue Elizabeth Renner of Denver, representing an organization that supports or has expertise in infant health and development.Kelly J. Brough of Denver, as a public member.Bruce H. Caughey of Centennial, as a public member.Kenneth A. DeLay of Longmont, as a public member.Richard L. Garcia of Boulder, as a public member.Ellen Golombeck of Denver, as a public member.Ernest Domingo House of Aurora, as a public member.Michael C. Johnston of Denver, as a public member.Helayne B. Jones of Boulder, as a public member.Dale McCall of Longmont, as a public member.Carole R. Murray of Castle Rock, as a public member.Daniel L. Ritchie of Denver, as a public member.Anthony Darren Salazar of Denver, as a public member.Christine Marie Scanlan of Dillon, as a public member.Brenda Kay Smith of Highlands Ranch, as a public member.Chris J. Watney of Denver, as a public member.

Colorado Classroom provides ground-level reporting on what’s going on in the state’s public schools and on college campuses, looking at people, places, issues, trends and innovative approaches to education.